Jeremiah 27-28 • When the False Prophet Meets the True
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Jeremiah 27-28 • When the False Prophet Meets the True Introduction What is the role of a prophet? What makes them different from, say, a preacher or teacher or evangelist? In these chapters we have the opportunity to examine a true prophet of God side-by-side with a false prophet. We are provided not with just a case study of how to tell the true apart from the false, but with how we as believers are supposed to handle prophesy and react to God’s prophets. In this example we can see why true prophets are often called “evangelists to believers”. 1In the beginning of the reign of [Read 27:1-2] Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Q: What kind of a teaching is this? 2 LORD, saying— thus says the LORD to A: This is what we would call an object lesson. Jeremiah would do me—“Make for yourself bonds and yokes something that visibly parallels the greater symbolism of the Word of and put them on your neck, God. 3and send word to the king of Edom, to [Read 27:3-7] the king of Moab, to the king of the sons of Ammon, to the king of Tyre and to the Q: What is the meaning of the object lesson? king of Sidon by the messengers who A: It symbolizes the nations who will fall victim to Nebuchadnezzar come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of initially and remain subservient to Babylon through the reigns of his son 4 Judah. Command them to go to their and grandson. masters, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, thus you shall Q: Why are these particular nations singled out? 5 say to your masters, I have made the A: These are the nations to whom the cup of God’s wrath was sent earth, the men and the beasts which are through Jeremiah in chapter 25 and against whom Jeremiah prophesied. on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I Q: Are these the only nations to conquered by Babylon? will give it to the one who is pleasing in A: Verse 7 indicates, “All the nations shall serve him”. But God wants 6 My sight. Now I have given all these these nations in particular to know in advance that the greater work of lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar His judgment is empowering these things and that it’s not simply coming king of Babylon, My servant, and I have about by chance. These are all nations He has given the opportunity to given him also the wild animals of the come into a right relationship with Him at one time or another. 7 field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson Q: What might be significant about how God indicates the length of time until the time of his own land comes; then Babylon will rule? many nations and great kings will make A: The time of God’s judgment is fixed and in the end itself turns upon him their servant. the instrument of that judgment – Babylon – who does not learn the right lesson of judgment. 8“It will be, that the nation or the [Read 27:8-11] kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Q: What is God’s desire? What will happen to those who ignore it? which will not put its neck under the yoke A: God’s desire is that they submit to judgment. But if they resist it, He of the king of Babylon, I will punish that will send additional, supernatural events to add to their punishment. nation with the sword, with famine and with pestilence,” declares the LORD, Q: What will happen to those who accept it? “until I have destroyed it by his hand. A: They will be subject to Babylon but will not be extracted from their 9 But as for you, do not listen to your land. (v.11) prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers who Q: What does this tell us about God’s intentions? speak to you, saying, ‘You will not serve A: He is disciplining them for the purpose of changing their behavior. He 10 the king of Babylon.’ For they prophesy is seeking those who will submit to His discipline, not continue to rebel a lie to you in order to remove you far against it. from your land; and I will drive you out 11 and you will perish. But the nation Jeremiah 27-28 • When the False Prophet Meets the True, Page 1 of 6 Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. All other content, materials, etc. are Copyright © 2009 by Walk with the Word. Permission for personal and/or not-for-profit use freely granted. Any questions or comments concerning Walk with the Word should be directed to [email protected] which will bring its neck under the yoke Q: Whom does God identify as their greatest threat in this situation? of the king of Babylon and serve him, I A: “…your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers or will let remain on its land,” declares the your sorcerers”. (v.9) LORD, “and they will till it and dwell in 1. “Prophet” – Someone who is purportedly conveying a message from it.”’” God. 2. “Diviner” – Someone who claims that their magic practices or incantations reveal a message from beyond. Their message is purported to come about as the result of the person’s own works. 3. “Dreamer” – Someone who claims to have had a divine revelation or prophetic vision as the result of a dream from God. 4. “Soothsayer” – Someone who claims they can predict the future by magical or mystical means, a kind of practitioner of false religious practices. 5. “Sorcerer” – Someone who practices magic, something that may or may not be directly connected with a particular religion.. Examples are Jannes and Jambres, the witch of Endor, and Simon the Samaritan (Acts 8). All of these different disciplines cover all the ways by which people believe spiritual results could be achieved WITHOUT going through the One True God. Point: One of the ways people rebel against God is by seeking false spiritual authorities to tell them what they want to hear rather than the truth. The greater problem here is with people who will listen to every spiritual deceiver of every kind but not to the Word of God. 12I spoke words like all these to [Read 27:12-15] Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Q: Now to whom is God speaking? Babylon and serve him and his people, A: To Judah. 13 and live! Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, famine and Q: Does He say anything different to them than to the nations? pestilence, as the LORD has spoken to that A: No, it’s the same call. nation which will not serve the king of 14 Babylon? So do not listen to the words Q: And what is their biggest spiritual impediment? of the prophets who speak to you, saying, A: Prophets who “prophesy a lie to you…they prophesy falsely in My ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ name”. Just as false spiritual influences are the main problem with the 15 for they prophesy a lie to you; for I have nations, so it is with Judah. not sent them,” declares the LORD, “but they prophesy falsely in My name, in Q: What is the consequence of listening to false prophets? order that I may drive you out and that A: It’s not merely that someone is getting bad information, but since it you may perish, you and the prophets does not change behavior it leads to death. who prophesy to you.” Application: The difference between putting into practice God’s Word and ways as opposed to listening to false spiritual influences is literally the difference between life and death itself. Jeremiah 27-28 • When the False Prophet Meets the True, Page 2 of 6 Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. All other content, materials, etc. are Copyright © 2009 by Walk with the Word. Permission for personal and/or not-for-profit use freely granted. Any questions or comments concerning Walk with the Word should be directed to [email protected] 16Then I spoke to the priests and to all [Read 27:16-22] this people, saying, “Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your Q: Why are “the vessels of the Lord’s house” being discussed? prophets who prophesy to you, saying, A: Previously the most costly and precious vessels had been removed ‘Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house during the reigns of Jehoiakim and Jeconiah. This was a warning, a kind will now shortly be brought again from of prelude from God indicating that everything would eventually be taken. Babylon’; for they are prophesying a lie Instead of repenting and learning the right lesson, they instead clung to 17 to you. Do not listen to them; serve the the notion that it was something temporary, a false belief reinforced by king of Babylon, and live! Why should false prophets.